Southampton Plot
Encyclopedia
The Southampton Plot of 1415 was a conspiracy against King Henry V of England
, aimed at replacing him with Edmund Mortimer, 5th Earl of March. The three alleged ringleaders were Richard of Conisburgh, 3rd Earl of Cambridge
, Mortimer's brother-in-law; Henry Scrope, 3rd Baron Scrope of Masham
(whose uncle Richard le Scrope
had been executed for his part in a 1405 revolt also supporting Mortimer's right); and Sir Thomas Grey of Heton. They were charged with plotting to murder Henry at Southampton before his embarkation into France
; revolts in favour of Mortimer by Lollards under Sir John Oldcastle
in the West Country
, and by the Percies
in the North
, would follow.
The nominal principal, the Earl of March, informed King Henry of the plot on July 31, claiming that he had only just become aware of it. Richard, Scrope, and Grey were promptly arrested. The trial took place in Southampton, on the site now occupied by the Red Lion pub. Grey was put to death on August 3 and the two peers on August 5, both in front of the Bargate. The executions were carried out according to class: Richard, Earl of Cambridge, and Henry, Lord Scrope of Masham, were beheaded
; Sir Thomas Grey, a commoner, was drawn and quartered. Satisfied, Henry sailed for France on August 11.
This plot features prominently in William Shakespeare
's play Henry V
.
With the death of the Duke of York
, the Earl of Cambridge's elder brother, at the Battle of Agincourt
later that year, Cambridge's son Richard Plantagenet
became heir to the title, which would eventually be returned to him after Henry V's death. Through his mother
, he also inherited the Mortimer claim to the throne on the Earl of March's death; later in life Richard would use this claim to try to dethrone
King Henry VI
.
Henry V of England
Henry V was King of England from 1413 until his death at the age of 35 in 1422. He was the second monarch belonging to the House of Lancaster....
, aimed at replacing him with Edmund Mortimer, 5th Earl of March. The three alleged ringleaders were Richard of Conisburgh, 3rd Earl of Cambridge
Richard of Conisburgh, 3rd Earl of Cambridge
Richard of Conisburgh, 3rd Earl of Cambridge was the younger son of Edmund of Langley, 1st Duke of York and Isabella of Castile....
, Mortimer's brother-in-law; Henry Scrope, 3rd Baron Scrope of Masham
Henry Scrope, 3rd Baron Scrope of Masham
Henry Scrope, 3rd Baron Scrope of Masham KG was a favourite of King Henry V of England but he was executed for his involvedment in the Southampton Plot.-Biography:...
(whose uncle Richard le Scrope
Richard le Scrope
Richard le Scrope was Bishop of Lichfield then Archbishop of York.Scrope earned a Doctorate in canon law. He was provided to the see of Coventry and Lichfield on 18 August 1386, and consecrated on 19 August 1386. He was given the temporalities of the see on 15 November 1386. He was consecrated at...
had been executed for his part in a 1405 revolt also supporting Mortimer's right); and Sir Thomas Grey of Heton. They were charged with plotting to murder Henry at Southampton before his embarkation into France
Kingdom of France
The Kingdom of France was one of the most powerful states to exist in Europe during the second millennium.It originated from the Western portion of the Frankish empire, and consolidated significant power and influence over the next thousand years. Louis XIV, also known as the Sun King, developed a...
; revolts in favour of Mortimer by Lollards under Sir John Oldcastle
John Oldcastle
Sir John Oldcastle , English Lollard leader, was son of Sir Richard Oldcastle of Almeley in northwest Herefordshire and grandson of another Sir John Oldcastle....
in the West Country
West Country
The West Country is an informal term for the area of south western England roughly corresponding to the modern South West England government region. It is often defined to encompass the historic counties of Cornwall, Devon, Dorset and Somerset and the City of Bristol, while the counties of...
, and by the Percies
Earl of Northumberland
The title of Earl of Northumberland was created several times in the Peerages of England and Great Britain, succeeding the title Earl of Northumbria. Its most famous holders were the House of Percy , who were the most powerful noble family in Northern England for much of the Middle Ages...
in the North
Northern England
Northern England, also known as the North of England, the North or the North Country, is a cultural region of England. It is not an official government region, but rather an informal amalgamation of counties. The southern extent of the region is roughly the River Trent, while the North is bordered...
, would follow.
The nominal principal, the Earl of March, informed King Henry of the plot on July 31, claiming that he had only just become aware of it. Richard, Scrope, and Grey were promptly arrested. The trial took place in Southampton, on the site now occupied by the Red Lion pub. Grey was put to death on August 3 and the two peers on August 5, both in front of the Bargate. The executions were carried out according to class: Richard, Earl of Cambridge, and Henry, Lord Scrope of Masham, were beheaded
Decapitation
Decapitation is the separation of the head from the body. Beheading typically refers to the act of intentional decapitation, e.g., as a means of murder or execution; it may be accomplished, for example, with an axe, sword, knife, wire, or by other more sophisticated means such as a guillotine...
; Sir Thomas Grey, a commoner, was drawn and quartered. Satisfied, Henry sailed for France on August 11.
This plot features prominently in William Shakespeare
William Shakespeare
William Shakespeare was an English poet and playwright, widely regarded as the greatest writer in the English language and the world's pre-eminent dramatist. He is often called England's national poet and the "Bard of Avon"...
's play Henry V
Henry V (play)
Henry V is a history play by William Shakespeare, believed to be written in approximately 1599. Its full titles are The Cronicle History of Henry the Fifth and The Life of Henry the Fifth...
.
With the death of the Duke of York
Edward of Norwich, 2nd Duke of York
Sir Edward of Norwich, 2nd Duke of York, 2nd Earl of Cambridge, Earl of Rutland, Earl of Cork, Duke of Aumale KG was a member of the English royal family who died at the Battle of Agincourt....
, the Earl of Cambridge's elder brother, at the Battle of Agincourt
Battle of Agincourt
The Battle of Agincourt was a major English victory against a numerically superior French army in the Hundred Years' War. The battle occurred on Friday, 25 October 1415 , near modern-day Azincourt, in northern France...
later that year, Cambridge's son Richard Plantagenet
Richard Plantagenet, 3rd Duke of York
Richard Plantagenêt, 3rd Duke of York, 6th Earl of March, 4th Earl of Cambridge, and 7th Earl of Ulster, conventionally called Richard of York was a leading English magnate, great-grandson of King Edward III...
became heir to the title, which would eventually be returned to him after Henry V's death. Through his mother
Anne de Mortimer
Anne de Mortimer, Countess of Cambridge was an English noblewoman in line of succession for the throne of England...
, he also inherited the Mortimer claim to the throne on the Earl of March's death; later in life Richard would use this claim to try to dethrone
Wars of the Roses
The Wars of the Roses were a series of dynastic civil wars for the throne of England fought between supporters of two rival branches of the royal House of Plantagenet: the houses of Lancaster and York...
King Henry VI
Henry VI of England
Henry VI was King of England from 1422 to 1461 and again from 1470 to 1471, and disputed King of France from 1422 to 1453. Until 1437, his realm was governed by regents. Contemporaneous accounts described him as peaceful and pious, not suited for the violent dynastic civil wars, known as the Wars...
.